Forged In Flame (In Her Name: The First Empress, Book 2) Read Free Page A

Ria-Ka’luhr, she knew how to use it better than the more junior acolytes.
    She looked up at the great warrior who had been her mentor, protector, and surrogate father. “What shall we do while the others are on their free time?” It had been a huge disappointment for her last year, when the other disciples had been given their leave, but Ayan-Dar had held her back, fearing for her life. She understood his intentions, but not being able to go with the others chafed. On the other hand, he and Ria-Ka’luhr had spent the entire time with her, and in the end she was happy she had not gone with the peers.
    Ayan-Dar frowned at her. “What shall we do? Have I taught you nothing, child? You are to have your free time, of course.”
    For a moment, Keel-Tath stood, mouth agape, as her mind seized on what he’d said. “I…I am to go?”
    Grinning, Ayan-Dar leaned down and clapped her on the shoulder. “Yes, child. You are going on your first free time.” He bent down slightly so his face was level with hers. She instantly averted her gaze, looking toward the floor, and bowed her head. “Look at me, Keel-Tath.” He reached out and gently lifted her chin, and she reluctantly looked into the scarred face with its single eye, the other covered by a black leatherite patch. “I know things have been difficult for you, being locked away in the temple, and for that I would beg your forgiveness. The high priestess is right: if you are to understand the world you are to inherit, you must walk the path beyond our walls. I will not lie to you, child: with every beat of my heart since the day you came to us, held out to me by your dying mother, I have feared for your life. I believe that even now the Dark Queen will spare nothing to harm you. But I — both of us — must set aside our fears and step out into the light of understanding. The high priestess has given me permission to escort you this time, although in the years to come I suspect that will not be the case. Then, you will be on your own.”
    Tightly gripping the handle of her sword, Keel-Tath said, “I am not afraid, Ayan-Dar. For if you are at my side, what harm could befall me?”
    Ayan-Dar grunted. “Do not place overmuch faith in me, child. I am old and tired, and my sword does not fly from its sheath as it once did.”
    In the blink of an eye, he had drawn his sword, and held the blade before her surprised eyes. 
    “There, you see? Slow. Ponderously slow. Now you do it.”
    Keel-Tath did not have to think. Her blade sang from its scabbard as her feet shifted smoothly to a combat stance. 
    Nodding with approval at her skill as he squinted at the sword tip that was a mere hand’s breadth from the sigil on the collar at his throat, Ayan-Dar said, “Again, child, very good. I see that Ria-Ka’luhr has not been lax in his duty as your personal sword master. Your draw is nearly as fast as some of the older acolytes.” He lowered his voice and spoke in a conspiratorial tone. “You must be careful not to embarrass them in the coming Challenge like you did last year.”
    “I will not leave them time to be embarrassed, my priest.” She returned his grin with one of her own as she sheathed her sword, loving the sound of the blade as it slid home in the scabbard. “They shall beg for mercy!”
    “Ah.” Ayan-Dar rolled his eye heavenward as he sheathed his own sword. “Such humility. But never mind the future, child. The time is now, and the question is this: where would you go for your free time?”
    That was something about which Keel-Tath had given a great deal of thought. She had never been able to go on her free time, Ayan-Dar keeping her at the temple for her safety. Each time as she slept alone in her barracks she had pondered that question. Every time she had reached the same answer. Of all the places that might exist beyond the walls of the temple or among the stars in the sky, there was only one that would be the destination for her first time